The Seattle Sounders fell 3-0 to LAFC on Saturday night at Lumen Field in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Semifinal behind a Denis Bouanga brace and a goal from Mateusz Bogusz.
LAFC took the lead in the 16th minute when Bouanga converted from the penalty spot. Referee Alan Chapman awarded the penalty after a scramble in the box resulted in a Nouhou handball.
LAFC doubled its lead in the 26th minute when Bogusz volleyed home a cleared header from 25 yards out after an LAFC free kick.
The Sounders had a penalty shout of their own in the 55th minute when Maxime Chanot appeared to take down Paul Rothrock in the box, but Chapman determined that Rothrock dove and cautioned him for simulation.
Bouanga scored his second of the evening in the 74th minute when Kei Kamara played Bouanga in behind on the right and he beat goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Frei made a huge save in the 80th minute to deny Bouanga a hat trick when Frei came out big to cut off Bouanga’s angle and keep it out.
The Sounders’ best chance of the match came in the second minute of stoppage time when Rothrock fired in a left-footed strike that goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saw late but dove to his right and parried it away.
Seattle had another gilt-edge chance in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Raúl Ruidíaz saw his shot headed off the goal line by Sergi Palencia.
Lloris made another great save in the fifth minute of stoppage time when he made a kick save at the near post.
LAFC ran its unbeaten run against the Sounders to eight matches in all competitions (6-0-2) dating back to 2021.
The Sounders finish the night seventh in the Western Conference with 37 points from 25 matches.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
De la Vega starts again
Pedro de la Vega made just his third start of the season after battling hamstring injuries throughout the majority of the season. The Argentine Young Designated Player went 45 minutes as he works his way back to full fitness.
Win streak snapped
Saturday’s result snapped a six-match win streak in all competitions and eight-game unbeaten run dating back to June 15.
Leagues Cup awaits
Seattle will pause its MLS season as the 2024 Leagues Cup gets underway. The Sounders will host Minnesota United in their group opener on July 26 (7 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS) before hosting Liga MX side Club Necaxa on Aug. 4.
